“It’s been a hard five years. Obviously for the last 4 1/2, 5 years, I wasn’t able to say anything. I’m really thankful for the [friends] that took time to get on a plane. And all you media guys that have been following my career . . . I put a lot of hard work in that career.”

The botched prosecution of “The Rocket” followed an earlier mistrial and an intensive investigation that, all told, are estimated to have cost taxpayers as much as $3 million.

In a prepared statement, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said: “We respect the judicial process and the jury’s verdict.”

The feds also offered thanks to “the investigators and prosecutors, who pursued this case with tremendous dedication and professionalism after its referral to us from Congress.”

But one former DC federal prosecutor said it had been all over but the shouting since the stunning testimony of key prosecution witness Andy Pettitte, Clemens’ former teammate and friend.

The Yankee pitcher conceded during cross-examination by defense lawyer Mike Attanasio that there was a “50-50” chance he misheard Clemens admit taking human-growth hormone to extend his career.

“That question is going to live in cross-examination lore forever, because you just don’t take a risk like that unless you’re pretty ballsy and it pays off,” he said.

“To have the guts to ask that question and have it play in your favor, that makes him a cross-examination superstar.”

Pettitte last night didn’t want to discuss the verdict.

“It’s not something I care to talk about,” he said after the Yankees won their 10th straight game.

Despite the verdict, many still doubt Clemens’ denial that he cheated his way to age-defying performances that included winning his seventh Cy Young Award at 41 and posting his career-best 1.87 ERA the following year.

Even Clemens told Congress at the 2008 hearing, “No matter what we discuss here today, I’m never going to have my name restored.”

A crucial barometer will come this fall, when he’ll be on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.

His stats would normally make him a shoo-in for baseball’s greatest honor, but voters have been reluctant to induct players — such as Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro — whose careers were tainted by allegations of drug use.

The government’s case relied heavily on the testimony of Clemens’ longtime strength coach, Brian McNamee, who testified he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, 2000 and 2001 and with HGH in 2000.

But McNamee was the only person to claim firsthand knowledge of Clemens’ using steroids and HGH, and even prosecutors conceded that their star witness was a “flawed man.”